Arsenal F.C. – is the season already over?

Hello football fans,

Arsenal lost to Newcastle by a world class header and the despair is palpable. Just a single goal separated the teams during a cagey game. What went wrong? A few pundits have offered their opinions (click below):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c629xq813peo

The Gunners started quickly out of the blocks against Newcastle with a high tempo and created a couple of scoring opportunities. After Newcastle scored at minute 11, via a wicked cross, the energy drained away from the players. Newcastle defended well, played deep and tried to hit Arsenal on the counter, whilst fouling heavily (although both sides fouled 16 vs.18). The flow of the match was therefore interrupted; nevertheless, Arsenal lacked creativity to get into goal scoring positions. Even Arsenal’s set pieces and corners looked below par on the day. So why is the team not able to create more chances from the extra possession (36% vs. 64%)? Maybe the answer lies in the midfield?

Observing the line up against Newcastle, with Thomas Partey playing at right back, caused some head scratching. After all, Saliba was available alongside Timber. This is not a criticism of Partey because he was outstanding against Liverpool as a right back, but is it his best position? The midfield alternative of Merino has not offered enough imagination, be it when the team played a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation. Simply put, Merino is a new player who cannot replace Odegaard. During the Newcastle game, Merino was hesitant and not incisive with his passing. The team is therefore missing a conductor alongside Rice and when both wings are closed down, as was witnessed on Sunday, Arsenal’s momentum is flat. When Jorginho played in midfield against Southampton, the team created 29 chances, but this was a home game versus weak opposition.

Glancing further up field, Arteta has opted for several matches with a 4-4-2 formation, starting Havertz alongside Trossard. Havertz performs at his best when he is a lone number 9, for one of his incredible strengths is holding up the ball, and creating space for others. Trossard on the other hand plays at his best as an impact player, coming on after half-time to change the rhythm of any match.

No doubt, the coaching staff are busy analysing the player statistics and trying to understand why Arsenal obtained just 1 point out of a possible 9, over recent games, plus 8 goals conceded during the last 5 matches, which is more than the goals conceded during the previous 15! There are no simple answers, but Arteta seems to be tinkering with the team line-ups, due to various injuries and red cards. One must not forget that Arsenal have already suffered 3 red cards this season, over 8 matches; but it is not doom and gloom (see Leicester on the link below):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckgnmn057r6o

Furthermore, Arteta has kept an eye on participating in 4 competitions, which is an extremely onerous game schedule. For example, Saliba, before his red card against Bournemouth, performed poorly for France and was lambasted in the French media. During the Bournemouth game, his concentration and sharpness was lacking, so when the red card was brandished, it was not a total surprise.

To conclude, Arsenal look like a tired squad and manager Arteta needs to rotate the players more consistently. The team has to rely on some of the new generation and sign a striker. Incidentally, if Gabriel Jesus does not improve his form, the management should consider selling him. The team formation also needs to change and Havertz must be allowed a free role up front. One final remark - the team needs a more assertive captain than Saka in the absence of Odegaard; maybe Declan Rice who resembles the giant figure of captain Tony Adams (1992-2003)?

So, is Arsenal’s season already over? Absolutely not, but the next 7 days may prove to be decisive. If the team loses to Inter Milan and Chelsea, heads may drop and the players may suffer self-doubt. The strong resilience exhibited last season and the unwillingness to surrender against Manchester City on 22nd September, when leading by a goal with 10 men, is a testament to the team’s character. The supporter’s glass therefore remains half full and not half empty.

This weekend, the Premier League offered several surprises. Bournemouth was superb versus City and could have won by a bigger margin even though City put up a fight and almost equalised at the end. Meanwhile Liverpool were losing to a feisty Brighton but scored two goals in quick succession around the minute 70 mark. The first goal had an element of luck but the second was the Egyptian pharaoh displaying his magic, (like Nwaneri’s goal versus Preston). Man United versus Chelsea at 1-1 was a fair result. Both teams created chances (11 vs.12 shots) whilst United fouled more (19 vs. 14). Caicedo’s strike for Chelsea was a wonderful goal whilst United were slightly lucky to keep 11 men on the pitch.

The verdict is that the Premier league is wide open and the margins so fine, that predicting who will top the table in May is like gambling on the horses at Ascot. Who would have guessed that Nottingham Forest would sit at third in the table after 10 games, given that they were almost relegated during 2023/24? (see table below)

League table (3 November 2024)

Let us not forget that the upcoming fixture list for the top teams, until the other side of the international break (23rd November), is difficult and perhaps the most arduous for Arsenal. As discussed earlier, if Arsenal can be victorious against Inter Milan and Chelsea, Saturday’s hiccup against the Magpies may be forgotten.

Finally, this football season is going to provide many emotional gyrations and the team with the fittest squad and strongest character will win the league. Every pundit and commentator is predicting Liverpool or City to be champions on the 25th of May 2025, but I would prefer to wager on Arsenal. There are still 28 games to go and surprises galore in store. This is why we love the beautiful game!

Postscript: Following the surprise resignation of Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar on the 4th of November, more questions are being asked about Arsenal’s premiership title chances. The towering and cheery figure of Edu will be missed by the club, but he is leaving with a laudable legacy and a talented young squad. Hopefully, the players can focus on their next games and move on from this untimely distraction.

Regrettably, the injury of Declan Rice over the weekend and his inability to travel to Milan tomorrow, will further pressure the midfield. Rice is the team’s engine room with Odegaard and both players will be sorely missed at the San Siro stadium. Do the above factors therefore change the earlier conclusion? Not really, as the team literally has to overcome the next week, in order to sail into calmer waters. As they say, a week is a long time in politics! In the meantime, this video offers some remarkable coincidences between Arsenal and Manchester City. (see link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEjgNB4_6BM

FH.